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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 12: Former House Majority Leader and FreedomWorks chairman Dick Armey, (C) and FreedomWorks CEO Matt Kibbe, (R) at a Tea Party "Get Out The Vote" rally for Pat Toomey at SmokeEaters Pub in Philadelphia on October 12, 2010. (Photo by Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images)

Amanda Carey

ORLANDO, Fla. – As the 2012 election draws near, FreedomWorks, the behemoth tea party organization, has learned a few things from past elections.

In an interview with The Daily Caller, Freedomworks Chairman Dick Armey and President Matt Kibbe said that this time, the tea party is getting into the race sooner and stronger.

When it comes to the presidential race, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has attracted their attention.

“I think you have to look at Romney as the establishment guy,” Kibbe told TheDC, adding that he is the “Charlie Crist of this race. Perry’s quick rise reflects the hunger to try and find an acceptable alternative.”

Moreover, Kibbe and Armey said they find Perry’s comments about Social Security refreshing.

“Any Republican willing to talk about the liabilities … in Social Security and Medicare,” said Kibbe, “I gotta tell ya, we find his willingness to be blunt compelling. I would like for that fight over the phrase ‘Ponzi scheme’ to morph into a serious conversation.”

“In the world of political correctness, you can more quickly get in trouble for telling an obvious truth than you can for telling a lie,” said Armey.

FreedomWorks’ disdain for Romney and, more specifically, the health care plan he signed into law, has been no secret. But they have no plans to publicly endorse a presidential candidate just yet. They’re realistic, and are willing to look at a candidate’s pitfalls, even if that candidate passes their philosophical test.

When asked about Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, Kibbe and Armey acknowledged her appeal to the conservative base, but expressed concern about her campaign’s recent drop in the polls.

“She has to rehabilitate her ability to express her candidacy,” said Armey. “I think she’s had a pretty serious breakdown and I don’t know how she overcomes that. But what she still has going for her, is she still has such an authentic appeal to grassroots activists.”

FreedomWorks may not be ready to weigh in on the presidential race, but congressional races are another matter. So far, the organization has been methodically dipping its toes in certain races, while issuing full endorsements in others.